Olympian Rachael Adams: ‘Our Thoughts Become a Reality’

“It’s not like I didn’t believe in myself. But our thoughts become a reality.”
— Rachael Adams, U.S. Olympic Middle Blocker (Rio 2016 Bronze)

The Story Behind the Quote

After being left off the 2015 World Cup roster, Adams worked with high-performance psychologist Michael Gervais to rebuild her mental game. She earned an Olympic starting position in 2016 and was named the “most improved player in the U.S. program” by head coach Karch Kiraly.

What This Means for Young Athletes

Your thoughts shape your reality on the court. If you think “I always choke in big moments,” your brain looks for evidence to confirm that belief. If you think “I’ve trained for this – I’m ready,” your brain activates different neural pathways.

3 Lessons from Rachael Adams

1. Reframe Rejection

Being cut or not making a team isn’t failure – it’s feedback. Adams used her 2015 setback as motivation.

2. Trust the Process

Mental training is like physical training – it takes consistency. Adams worked daily with her sports psychologist for a full year before seeing results.

3. Own Your Thoughts

You can’t control what happens, but you can control how you interpret it. “Our thoughts become a reality” means taking responsibility for your internal dialogue.

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